Woollen textile is the second largest industry in the world. A rapid development of woollen textile industry emerged in England in 17th century. After the Second World War, the invention of modern machines in Japan accelerated the development of the woollen textile industy. In terms of quantity, woollen garment industy in the world is only 10 to 15 per cent of cotton textiles, but it is an important industry in terms of earnings. It needs skilled labour, clean water supply, resources of power, large amount of capital and easy modes of transportation.

Major Regions: Around two – third of woollen textile industry of the world is centralised in Europe. Russia, China, Japan, Germany, India, USA, Romania, Poland, Great Britain etc. are major woollen textile producing countries of the world. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Uruguay are major woollen textile producing countries of the Southern Hemisphere where 5 per cent of world’s woollen textile production takes place.